SNC Lavalin looking for ways to protect business amid of political crisis

SNC Lavalin Group's chief executive said on Friday the company is looking at ways to protect its business in the event it loses a corruption trial that has created a political crisis for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

An SNC-Lavalin board subcommittee is weighing the construction and engineering company's options as it takes "steps to minimize the effect of any potential sort of bad outcome in a few years time," chief executive Neil Bruce told Reuters in an interview.

Trudeau has been on the defensive since Feb. 7 over allegations that top officials working for him leaned on former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould last year to ensure that the construction company avoided a corruption trial. Trudeau has denied the allegations.